Stories of Hope

In our blog, Stories of Hope, you will find personal stories from moms who have lived through and overcome a maternal mental health disorder as well as guest posts from providers and other respected members of the maternal mental health community.

If you are interested in being a contributor, please contact us for more information.


Speaking My Postpartum Truth

By Kristi Rapp, MMHI Board Co-Chair Trigger Warning: intrusive thoughts My son Grayson was born in June of 2011. For many women, the day their baby is born is one of the happiest days of their lives. Unfortunately, that was not the case for me. The minute Grayson was delivered, I did not feel connected with him. I didn’t want

Helping Moms Find What She Needed During Postpartum Anxiety & Depression

By Ashley Mueller Joining the board of MMHI has been life changing for me.  After the birth of my second child, I experienced tremendous postpartum anxiety and depression.  My daughter was born nearly a month early, and the hospital that I gave birth at did not have a NICU.  Her first few moments of life were traumatic – she was

Letter From 100 Days of Motherhood With a Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorder

By Amelia Toporsh Dear Friend,  If you’re reading this you are likely suffering from, a survivor of, or a support person to an individual suffering from Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorder (PMAD). There is something I want you to know – & I don’t want you to be offended. But I think you should hear this: Your disorder is not

Postpartum Depression Recovery Comes In Small Glimmers of Hope

By Becky Schroeder, Co-Founder, Moms Mental Health Initiative Schroeder, pictured with her daughter. “She doesn’t like to be passed around.” These words sounded muffled to me as I lay in my hospital bed recovering from the very hard birth of my daughter. I was sleep deprived, drugged, and still in shock from the amount of pain I felt during my

Building Hope In The Ruins of Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders

Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders can destroy hope. We’re on a mission to bring it back. By Sarah Ornst Bloomquist, Co-founder and Executive Director Postpartum depression, anxiety and the various perinatal mental health disorders 1 in 5 women suffer through can be ruthless. Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) can cut through a woman’s soul and expose her deepest fears